Brisbane-based illustrator Mel Stringer has created an adorable collection of female personalities in her new book Cute Yum, published by Belly Kids. Taking her little pink sketchbook, Mel situated herself within the heart of society and let her surroundings motivate her work — the relaxation and ease of parking up in coffee shops and similar surroundings allowed Stringer’s endearing creativity to really come to life.
Cute Yum comes as a breath of fresh air with its aura of female empowerment. Mel depicts her subjects with curvaceous, shapely figures — rendering the largely-publicised, unrealistic portrayal of the ‘dream’ figure helpless. Her drawings show a truer representation of the self when compared with standard size-zero models that control the world of ‘image’. Stringer’s girls are loved for the reason popular media shuns their shapes. Originally created by putting pencil to paper, these drawings allow her emotions to flow out onto the page, which she then digitally-enhances to perfection. The publication comes as a collective representation of her self-expression, whilst producing a physical artefact to enhance the importance of individual identity. Yet throughout her creative processes a sense of innocence is maintained through pastel palettes, button noses and attention to detail; like watermelon-shaped handbags.
Nostalgia also colours this creation as FRUITS, a Japanese photography book on street fashion, was discovered by a young Mel; Cute Yum representing her own recreation of this treasured volume. The vast variations that can be seen throughout each character support feminine identity through carefully pieced together style choices. Street style comes strongly linked with social media, around which our collective lives are so centred; with their angelic eyes, animated accessories and real anatomy, the girls of Cute Yum highlight the importance of self-expression, coming as a product of their creator’s. No single girl is defined by one characteristic — shapely legs or a small chest, they’re all females expressing their inner selves through outer appearance.
